Building solidarity against violence based on religion or belief
Every year, on 22nd August, the international community comes together to mark the UN International Day Commemorating Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
Established as an international day by the UN General Assembly in 2019, this day is an important opportunity for parliamentarians, civil society, governments, and other relevant stakeholders to not only raise awareness about violence and discrimination based on religion or belief but also to stand in solidarity and extend support to victims and survivors of such violence.
The recent catastrophic developments in Afghanistan is a significant reminder for the international community to continue its efforts in advancing peaceful coexistence, protecting vulnerable minorities, and holding state and non-state actors accountable for protecting the rights of all, including religious, belief and ethnic minorities.
We are deeply concerned about the targeting of, and the violence and persecution faced by various groups in Afghanistan. It is distressing to see the sheer brutality experienced by women, children, and religious and other minorities. The international community must ensure the safety of minorities in Afghanistan and work towards an inclusive and just political settlement that upholds the human rights of all, including women, children and minorities.
‘’We must work collectively and meaningfully to curb violence in the name of religion and belief across the world. Smaller, collective, and sustained efforts can result in a wave of positive change. Together with our partners and experts in the region, we continue working with parliamentarians in different parts of the world so that their actions and words gradually translate into the creation of inclusive and non-discriminatory environments where everyone can enjoy their human right to freedom of religion or belief.’’, said David Anderson, Retired MP Canada, and Chair of the IPPFoRB Steering Group.
This year, in Southeast Asia, together with our partner ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) and their regional network Southeast Asian Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (SEAPFoRB), we organized the Ramadhan Dialogues, an initiative aimed at fostering collaborations to strengthen the protection of freedom of religion or belief in Malaysia.
‘’The Ramadhan Dialogue created the space for interfaith dialogue, which is needed in Malaysia, given that such engagements help in building respect and mutual coexistence among people of different faiths. It is through engagements like these that we can hope to build a society where individuals and communities are not targeted because of their religion or belief. The stories of violence targeting people of faith must be heard and shared and made known as a reminder that we must work together to put an end to this abhorrent behaviour’’, said Kasthuri Patto, MP Malaysia, and Member of the IPPFoRB Steering Group.
At the same time, parliamentarians in Indonesia pledged to protect the right to freedom of religion or belief and combat the rise in hateful narratives that often lead to violence and discrimination. Signed by parliamentarians and religious leaders from Indonesia, the Sentul Declaration for Peace Building and Freedom of Religion or Belief enshrines moral commitments to promote and strengthen the protection of freedom of religion or belief for all.
‘‘As MPs, we have a crucial role to play in combating hateful narratives, including by collaborating with interfaith organizations and promoting positive narratives of peace and freedom of religion or belief in parliament and public meetings’’, said Eva Kusuma Sundari, Former MP Indonesia and APHR Board Member in this article.
Apart from Southeast Asia, we also work in Africa with our regional partners, the African Parliamentarians Association for Human Rights (AfriPAHR) and the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA).
‘’Since its inception in 2017, AfriPAHR has been supporting parliamentarians in the region to foster strategic alliances and engagements that work to advance freedom of religion or belief for all in Africa. From engaging with different African governments to working with our own constituencies, AfriPAHR parliamentarians have worked behind the scenes to build a more inclusive Africa’’, said Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP South Africa and Chair of AfriPAHR Steering Committee.
Key members of AfriPAHR have taken part in important fact-finding missions in different parts of Africa that have resulted in strategic and sustained engagements with government authorities, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders.
‘’More recently, IPPFoRB has intensified its efforts to strengthen freedom of religion or belief in the Western Balkans. Having collected first-hand information from parliamentarians, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders about freedom of religion or belief, this Autumn, we will publish a roadmap with parliamentarians from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia on strengthening this human right. This is an effort towards bringing parliamentarians together to start a conversation that would lead to policy, legal and attitudinal change in the region’’, adds Aykan Erdemir, Former MP Turkey and Member of the IPPFoRB Steering Group,